# NTSB LAX97LA191: Cessna 152, N757HE, Payson, AZ, May 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 1997, 00:45 local (07:45 UTC) - Place: Payson, AZ - Coordinates: 34.190231, -111.169868 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1902&lon=-111.1699&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29797 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29797/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA191 ## Probable cause an animal (elk) on the runway. Factors associated with the accident included: darkness, the pilot's inability to see the animal in sufficient time to avoid a collision, and the lack of a taller fence around the airport. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - animal(s) (cause) - other airport/runway maintenance - inadequate (contributing factor) ## Analysis While on a night instructional flight, the flight instructor (CFI) had the student pilot divert to the Payson Airport. During the landing roll, an elk ran directly in front of the aircraft, and the pilots could not avoid hitting the animal. The airport had two previous occurrences of aircraft colliding with elk at night. The airport perimeter fence was 5 feet in height. The City Manager of Payson stated that the city had recently accepted a grant offer to begin the biding process and subsequent construction of an 8-foot wall around the airport property. He hoped to have the fence in place by the end of the calendar year. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 1997, at 0045 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N757HE, collided with an elk during landing roll at Payson, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor and the student pilot were not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a training flight when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was not filed. The flight originated on May 26 in Chandler, Arizona, at 2315. The flight instructor stated in his report that the purpose of the flight was to practice a night cross-country flight through Class B airspace to Prescott, with a diversion to Payson about halfway through the flight. He further stated that upon landing in Payson, during the landing rollout, an elk ran in front of the aircraft and it was struck broadside. The instructor stated that they did not see the elk until "about 1 second before" impact. A review of the preceding 5 years of the Safety Board accident database revealed that there have been two recent accidents that involved elk on the runway. The City Manager of Payson stated that the city has recently accepted a grant offer to begin the biding process and subsequent construction of an 8-foot wall around the airport property. The current fence is only 5 feet high. The City Manager said that he hoped to have the fence in place by the end of the calendar year. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N757HE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N757HE), registered now, S/N 15279746, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15279746 - Airframe hours: 5116 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Venture Aviation - Registered owner: Richard Glazer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 16, 1997, 55 hours before - Departed: CHD, CHANDLER, AZ - Destination: E69 - Airport: E69, Payson, runway 24, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 8,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970527011979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970527011979A), May 27, 1997: Cessna 152, Payson, AZ, Substantial damage. Struck an elk landing at night. Elk ran in front of plane on landing roll. Will build higher fence keep elk out. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.